We caught up with an old friend from the United States last night. He was last in Australia in 2001. He couldn’t believe how expensive things in Australia had become. Even taking the massive swing in exchange rates into account, on a one-for-one basis the price difference is huge.
February 10th, 2012 | Greg Canavan | 7 comments | ContinuedFeatured
Commentary on the top news stories of the day by your Daily Reckoning editors in Melbourne, Australia. Still haven’t subscribed to the Daily Reckoning? What are you waiting for… sign up here, it’s free!
A chronological listing of articles is below.
Stock Market Hindsight Versus Market Foresight
Occasionally we receive comments along the lines of ‘you try to push the market lower’ or ‘talk the market down’. Some mistake our realism for grumpiness. Or assume we just don’t like it when the stock market goes up. While flattering, we must admit we have no control over the stock market whatsoever.
February 9th, 2012 | The Daily Reckoning | 0 comments | Continued
The End of the Iron Ore Age
The golden age of iron ore profits is ending for Australia. Europe’s banking system is slowly going bust because of the government debt crisis. Europe is a big customer of China’s. China is a big customer of Australia’s.
February 8th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 0 comments | Continued
Why Australian Banks Make Lousy Investments Right Now
Moody’s has just released a report claiming that Australian banks are the “most exposed” banks in the Asia-Pacific to a worsening of Europe’s sovereign-debt problem. What exactly does that mean?
February 7th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 1 comment | Continued
What the RBA Index of Commodity Prices Doesn’t Tell You
A whole sector of the commodities complex that’s in a long-term bull market isn’t measured by the RBA’s commodity prices index. Do you realise what this means?
February 7th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 0 comments | Continued
Natural Gas: The Big Transition in Energy
Today we look at why energy is becoming a flash point in Europe and how natural gas is taking centre stage. First, though, we’d like to announce a changing of the guard in the leadership of the resources market.
February 6th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 1 comment | Continued
Health, Wealth and Stealth Inflation in the Great Food Swindle
Today’s Daily Reckoning will deal with health and wealth – in equal measure (with a dose of inflation thrown in). Having good health, especially as you get older, is a form of enrichment so there’s symmetry between it and your wealth. And if you’ve been to a doctor / specialist / hospital recently, you’ll know maintaining your health is not cheap.
February 3rd, 2012 | Greg Canavan | 3 comments | Continued
Why the Latest Global Manufacturing Data Is Not Good, Just Less Worse
Global markets finished up strongly overnight on the release of ‘strong’ global manufacturing data. Why do we think this is a bear market rally? We’ll get to that in a moment. First, let’s take a quick look at the bear’s recent work.
February 2nd, 2012 | Greg Canavan | 2 comments | Continued
On the Edge of Evolution: An Investment Story in Three Acts
Today’s story is how the investment world you live in came to be…and how we’re on the edge of a great leap forward…or a great leap into a deep abyss. If you don’t have time to read it, go over to Facebook and tell everyone you’re too busy to read about the most important investment story of your life.
February 1st, 2012 | Dan Denning | 2 comments | Continued
What the Facebook IPO Says About Your Most Valuable Asset
Social networking site Facebook may go public this week. This is important. The fact that the company is ready to sell shares to the public and Wall Street is underwriting for the initial public offering (IPO) can only mean one thing: the age of superficial communication devoid of real content and real meaning may be peaking… as soon as tomorrow!
January 31st, 2012 | Dan Denning | 11 comments | Continued
The Energy Empire of the Sun
We take up the issue of national power and real energy in today’s Daily Reckoning. And we take it up because the fate of nations and the welfare of men and women are directly related to how much sunlight we all get. All power—from the stored solar energy in fossil fuels to the sunlight that makes food grow—comes from energy.
January 30th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 16 comments | Continued
Currency Wars
The currency wars are heating up. On Wednesday, Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke promised speculators he would keep interest rates low until 2014.
January 27th, 2012 | Greg Canavan | 1 comment | Continued
Sit Tight With The Bull Market: An Investing Lesson From The Great Bear of Wall Street
The book, Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefèvre immortalised Jesse Livermore’s exploits. I have never read it so I can’t be sure the following quote is even from that book. But wherever it comes from, it might be the most wise advice you’ll ever read about how to handle a bull market.
January 26th, 2012 | Greg Canavan | 3 comments | Continued
Australia’s Place in the World of Debt – An Each-Way Bet On The 21st Century
Australian government debt (Federal) crossed the $200 billion barrier last year. In a few short years, then, the government has gone from a modest $20 billion surplus to a $200 billion debt. That debt is still small as percentage of GDP compared to the US, Japan, and the UK. But it’s a lot larger than it was a few years ago…and once these things get rolling, they have a way of building momentum.
January 25th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 7 comments | Continued
The Link Between Japan’s Economy and Australia
Japan’s economy posted its first trade deficit since 1980. This is a country whose entire economic model has been based on exporting manufactured goods to the rest of the world. But for 2011, the Japanese ran a trade deficit of $2.6 billion.
January 25th, 2012 | Dan Denning | 0 comments | Continued
